Property transfers: Tybee Market IGA, the island's grocery store, under new ownership
An iconic Tybee family business is now in the hands of another familiar island business owner.
The Tybee Market IGA grocery store, owned and operated by the Hosti family since 1934, recently sold to Markus Hille and Melissa Yao Hille, proprietors of several Savannah-area restaurants, including the Sunrise location on Tybee’s Butler Avenue.
The terms of the sale were not disclosed and included the Tybee Market building and property at 1111 Butler Ave. The real estate transaction was officially valued at $10, according to Chatham County property records.
Benno Mike Hosti Sr. opened Tybee Market on Nov. 15, 1934, with help from Joe Hohnerlein, the owner of a Savannah meat market. The grocery has been run by Hosti’s descendants ever since. Mike Hosti, Benno’s son, is the latest Hosti to operate the store.
Hosti quietly put the business up for sale two years ago and talked with several interested buyers before agreeing to sell to the Hilles.
“I wanted a buyer who I felt would keep it the same and treat the community and employees the same,” Hosti said. “There is enormous heritage there.”
The Hilles intend to honor the Hosti legacy under their ownership. They retained the entire staff and have hired an additional 20 employees for the summer season. They’ve made a few small changes, such as adding self-checkout lanes and expanding the market’s produce department.
Future plans call for increased grab-and-go selections, such as fresh-cut fruit and salads and breakfast items. They are also considering a bakery as well as expanding the hours of the store’s popular deli.
“Tybee Market is a part of Tybee,” Melissa Yao Hille said. “We’re excited to keep the feel of the community in the market but also make some improvements to keep up with the times.”
The Hilles operate several local businesses. Melissa Yao Hille’s grandparents opened the Dragon Palace on Tybee in the 1970s and later a breakfast eatery under the name Ham and Eggs. Sunrise first opened in 1987 with a location on Savannah’s southside and the family rebranded Ham and Eggs under the Sunrise name a few years later.
Sunrise now has locations on Wilmington Island, off Chatham Parkway and in Pooler as well as on Tybee. Markus and Melissa also operate Bowls & Bubbles on Broughton Street and Melissa leads the public relations firm, MY Agency. Another member of the Yao family operates a boutique in Pooler called Hello Retail Therapy.
The Tybee Market will be the family’s first foray into the grocery business.
“My love for Tybee and Tybee residents and Tybee businesses played a part in the purchase,” Melissa Yao Hille said. “It’s always been such a great business and so-well run.”
Here are the full lists of property transfers for Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties. The Savannah Morning News publishes the records weekly, and the databases include transactions from prior weeks, starting with March 2023.
Chatham County
Bryan County
Effingham County
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Market IGA grocery store sold after 89 years in Hosti family
